EachmanbornintotheworldisbornlikeSheltoninthisbook——togoajourney，andforthemostpartheisbornonthehighroad。Atfirsthesitsthereinthedust，withhislittlechubbyhandsreachingatnothing，andhislittlesolemneyesstaringintospace。
　　Assoonashecantoddle，hemoves，bythequeerinstinctwecalltheloveoflife，straightalongthisroad，lookingneithertotherightnorleft，sopleasedishetowalk。Andheischarmedwitheverything——withtheniceflatroad，allbroadandwhite，withhisownfeet，andwiththeprospecthecanseeoneitherhand。Thesunshines，andhefindstheroadalittlehotanddusty；therainfalls，andhesplashesthroughthemuddypuddles。Itmakesnomatter——allispleasant；hisfatherswentthiswaybeforehim；theymadethisroadforhimtotread，and，whentheybredhim，passedintohisfibretheloveofdoingthingsastheythemselveshaddonethem。Sohewalksonandon，restingcomfortablyatnightsundertheroofsthathavebeenraisedtoshelterhim，bythosewhowentbefore。
　　Suddenlyoneday，withoutintendingto，henoticesapathoropeninginthehedge，leadingtorightorleft，andhestands，lookingattheundiscovered。Afterthathestopsatalltheopeningsinthehedge；
　　oneday，withabeatingheart，hetriesone。
　　Andthisiswherethefunbegins。
　　Outoftenofhimthattrythenarrowpath，nineofhimcomebacktothebroadroad，and，whentheypassthenextgapinthehedge，theysay:"No，no，myfriend，Ifoundyoupleasantforawhile，butafterthat-ah!afterthat!Thewaymyfatherswentisgoodenoughforme，anditisobviouslytheproperone；fornineofmecameback，andthatpoorsillytenth——Ireallypityhim!"
　　Andwhenhecomestothenextinn，andsnugglesinhiswell-warmed，bed，hethinksofthewildwasteofheatherwherehemighthavehadtospendthenightalonebeneaththestars；nordoesit，Ithink，occurtohimthatthebroadroadhetreadsalldaywasonceatracklessheathitself。
　　Butthepoorsillytenthisfaringon。Itisawindynightthatheistravellingthroughawindynight，withallthingsnewaround，andnothingtohelphimbuthiscourage。Ninetimesoutoftenthatcouragefails，andhegoesdownintothebog。Hehasseentheundiscovered，and——likeFerrandinthisbook——theundiscoveredhasengulfedhim；hisspirit，tougherthanthespiritoftheninethatburnedbacktosleepininns，wasyetnottoughenough。Thetenthtimehewinsacross，andonthetraceshehasleftothersfollowslowly，cautiously——anewroadisopenedtomankind!Atruesayinggoes:Whateveris，isright!Andifallmenfromtheworld'sbeginninghadsaidthat，theworldwouldneverhavebegun——atall。
　　Noteventheprotoplasmicjellycouldhavecommenceditsjourney；。
　　therewouldhavebeennomotiveforcetomakeitstart。
　　Andso，thatothersayinghadtobedevisedbeforetheworldcouldsetupbusiness:Whateveris，iswrong!ButsincetheCosmicSpiritfoundthatmattersmovedtoofastifthosethatfelt"Allthingsthatare，arewrong"equalledinnumberthosethatfelt"Allthingsthatare，areright，"Itsolemnlydevisedpolygamyall，beitsaid，inaspiritualwayofspeaking；andtoeachmalespiritcrowing"Allthingsthatare，arewrong"Itdecreedninefemalespiritsclucking"Allthingsthatare，areright。"TheCosmicSpirit，whowasverymuchanartist，knewitswork，andhadpreviouslydevisedaqualitycalledcourage，anddivideditinthree，namingthepartsspiritual，moral，physical。Toallthemale-birdspirits，buttonofemalespiritually，notcorporeallyspeaking，Itgavecouragethatwasspiritual；tonearlyall，bothmaleandfemale，Itgavecouragethatwasphysical；toverymanyhen-birdspiritsItgavemoralcouragetoo。But，becauseItknewthatifallthemale-birdspiritswerecomplete，theproportionofmaletofemale——onetoten——wouldbetoogreat，andcauseupheavals，Itsoarrangedthatonlyoneintenmale-
　　birdspiritsshouldhaveallthreekindsofcourage；sothattheothernine，havingspiritualcourage，butlackingeitherinmoralorinphysical，shouldfailintheirextensionsofthepoultry-run。Andhavingstartedthemupontheselines，itleftthemtogetalongasbesttheymight。
　　Thus，inthesubdivisionofthepoultry-runthatwecallEngland，theproportionoftheotherstothecompletemale-birdspirit，who，ofcourse，isnotinfrequentlyawoman，isninety-ninetoone；andwitheveryIslandPharisee，whenheorshestartsoutinlife，theinterestingquestionoughttobe，"AmIthatone？"Ninetyverysoonfindoutthattheyarenot，and，havingfounditout，lestothersshoulddiscover，theysaytheyare。Nineoftheotherten，blindedbytheirspiritualcourage，arehardertoconvince；butonebyonetheysink，stillproclaimingtheirvirility。ThehundredthPhariseealonesitsouttheplay。
　　Now，thejourneyofthisyoungmanShelton，whoissurelynotthehundredthPharisee，isbutaraggedefforttopresenttheworkingofthetruth"Allthingsthatare，arewrong，"uponthetruth"Allthingsthatare，areright。"
　　TheInstitutionsofthiscountry，liketheInstitutionsofallothercountries，arebuthalf-truths；theyaretheworkingdailyclothingofthenation；nomorethebody'spermanentdressthanisababy'sfrock。Slowlybutsurelytheywearout，orareoutgrown；andintheirfashiontheyarealwaysthirtyyearsatleastbehindthefashionsofthosespiritswhoareconcernedwithwhatshalltaketheirplace。Theconditionsthatdictateoureducation，thedistributionofourproperty，ourmarriagelaws，amusements，worship，prisons，andallotherthings，changeimperceptiblyfromhourtohour；themouldscontainingthem，beinginelastic，donotchange，butholdontothepointofbursting，andthenarehastily，oftenclumsily，enlarged。Theninetydesiringpeaceandcomfortfortheirspirit，theninetyofthewell-warmedbeds，willhaveitthatthefashionsneednotchange，thatmoralityisfixed，thatallisorderedandimmutable，thateveryonewillalwaysmarry，play，andworshipinthewaythattheythemselvesaremarrying，playing，worshipping。
　　Theyhavenospeculation，andtheyhatewithadeephatredthosewhospeculatewiththought。Thisisthefunctiontheyweremadefor。
　　Theyarethedough，andtheydislikethatyeastystuffoflifewhichcomesandworksaboutinthem。TheYeastyStuff——theotherten——chafedbyallthingsthatare，desirouseverofnewformsandmoulds，hateintheirturnthecomfortableninety。Eachpartyhasinventedfortheotherthehardestnamesthatitcanthinkof:
　　Philistines，Bourgeois，Mrs。Grundy，Rebels，Anarchists，andNe'er-do-weels。Sowegoon!Andso，aseachofusisborntogohisjourney，hefindshimselfintimerangedononesideorontheother，andjoinsthechorusesofname-slingers。
　　Butnowandthen——ah!veryseldom——wefindourselvessonearthatthingwhichhasnobreadth，themiddleline，thatwecanwatchthemboth，andpositivelysmiletoseethefun。
　　Whenthisbookwaspublishedfirst，manyofitscriticsfoundthatSheltonwastheonlyPharisee，andamostunsatisfactoryyoungman——
　　andso，nodoubt，heis。Belongingtothecomfortableninety，theyfelt，infact，theneedofslingingnamesatonewhoobviouslywasoftheten。Othersofitscritics，belongingtotheten，wieldedtheirepithetsuponAntonia，andtheserriedranksbehindher，andcalledthemPharisees；asdullasditch-water——andso，Ifear，theyare。
　　Oneofthegreatestcharmsofauthorshipistheprivilegeitgivestheauthorofstudyingthesecretspringsofmanyunseenpersons，ofanalysinghumannaturethroughthecriticismthathisworkevokes——
　　criticismwellingoutoftheinstinctivelikingsoraversions，outoftheveryfibreofthehumanbeingwhodeliversit；criticismthatoftenseemstoleapoutagainstthecritic'swill，startledlikeafawnfromsomedeepbed，ofsympathyorofantipathy。Andso，allauthorslovetobeabused——asanymancansee。
　　Inthelittlematterofthetitleofthisbook，weareallPharisees，whetheroftheninetyortheten，andwecertainlydoliveuponanIsland。
　　JOHNGALSWORTHY。
　　January1，1908
　　PARTI
　　THETOWN
　　CHAPTERI
　　SOCIETY
　　Aquiet，well-dressedmannamedShelton，withabrownfaceandashort，fairbeard，stoodbythebookstallatDoverStation。HewasabouttojourneyuptoLondon，andhadplacedhisbaginthecornerofathird-classcarriage。
　　Afterhislongtravel，theflat-vowelledvoiceofthebookstallclerkofferingthelatestnovelsoundedpleasant——pleasanttheindependentanswersofabeardedguard，andthestodgyfarewellsayingsofamanandwife。Thelimberporterstrundlingtheirbarrows，thegreynessofthestationandthegoodstolidhumourclingingtothepeople，air，andvoices，allbroughttohimthesenseofhome。MeanwhilehewaveredbetweenpurchasingabookcalledMarketHayborough，whichhehadreadandwould，certainlyenjoyasecondtime，andCarlyle'sFrenchRevolution，whichhehadnotreadandwasdoubtfulofenjoying；hefeltthatheoughttobuythelatter，buthedidnotrelishgivinguptheformer。Whilehehesitatedthus，hiscarriagewasbeginningtofillup；so，quicklybuyingboth，hetookupapositionfromwhichhecoulddefendhisrights。"Nothing，"hethought，"showspeopleupliketravelling。"
　　Thecarriagewasalmostfull，and，puttinghisbag，upintherack，hetookhisseat。Atthemomentofstartingyetanotherpassenger，agirlwithapaleface，scrambledin。
　　"Iwasafooltogothird，"thoughtShelton，takinginhisneighboursfrombehindhisjournal。
　　Theywereseven。Agrizzledrusticsatinthefarcorner；hisemptypipe，bowldownwards，juttedlikeahandlefromhisface，allblearedwiththesmearofnothingnessthatgrowsonthosewhopasstheirlivesinthecurrentofhardfacts。Nexttohim，aruddy，heavy-
　　shoulderedmanwasdiscussingwithagrey-haired，hatchet-visagedpersontheconditionoftheirgardens；andSheltonwatchedtheireyestillitoccurredtohimhowcuriousalookwasinthem——awatchfulfriendliness，anallieddistrust——andthattheirvoices，cheerful，evenjovial，seemedtobecautiousallthetime。Hisglancestrayedoff，andalmostreboundedfromthesemi-Roman，slightlycross，andwhollyself-complacentfaceofastoutladyinablack-and-whitecostume，whowasreadingtheStrandMagazine，whileherother，sleek，plumphand，freedfromitsblackglove，andornamentedwithathickwatch-bracelet，restedonherlap。Ayounger，bright-cheeked，andself-consciousfemalewassittingnexther，lookingatthepalegirlwhohadjustgotin。
　　"There'ssomethingaboutthatgirl，"thoughtShelton，"theydon'tlike。"Herbrowneyescertainlylookedfrightened，herclotheswereofaforeigncut。Suddenlyhemettheglanceofanotherpairofeyes；theseeyes，prominentandblue，staredwithasortofsubtlerogueryfromaboveathin，lopsidednose，andwereatonceaverted。
　　TheygaveSheltontheimpressionthathewasbeingjudged，andmocked，enticed，initiated。Hisowngazedidnotfall；thissanguineface，withitstwo-daygrowthofreddishbeard，longnose，fulllips，andirony，puzzledhim。"Acynicalface!"hethought，andthen，"butsensitive!"andthen，"toocynical，"again。
　　Theyoungmanwhoowneditsatwithhislegspartedattheknees，hisdustytrouser-endsandbootsslantingbackbeneaththeseat，hisyellowfinger-tipscrispedasifrollingcigarettes。Astrangeairofdetachmentwasaboutthatyouthful，shabbyfigure，andnotascrapofluggagefilledtherackabovehishead。
　　Thefrightenedgirlwassittingnextthispaganpersonality；itwaspossiblythelackoffashioninhislooksthatcaused，hertoselecthimforherconfidence。
　　"Monsieur，"sheasked，"doyouspeakFrench？"
　　"Perfectly。"
　　"Thencanyoutellmewheretheytakethetickets？
　　"Theyoungmanshookhishead。
　　"No，"saidhe，"Iamaforeigner。"
　　Thegirlsighed。
　　"Butwhatisthematter，ma'moiselle？"
　　Thegirldidnotreply，twistingherhandsonanoldbaginherlap。
　　Silencehadstolenonthecarriage——asilencesuchasstealsonanimalsatthefirstapproachofdanger；alleyeswereturnedtowardsthefiguresoftheforeigners。
　　"Yes，"brokeoutthered-facedman，"hewasabitsquiffythatevening——oldTom。"
　　"Ah!"repliedhisneighbour，"hewouldbe。"
　　Somethingseemedtohavedestroyedtheirlookofmutualdistrust。
　　Theplump，sleekhandoftheladywiththeRomannosecurvedconvulsively；andthismovementcorrespondedtothefeelingagitatingShelton'sheart。Itwasalmostasifhandandheartfearedtobeaskedforsomething。
　　"Monsieur，"saidthegirl，withatrembleinhervoice，"Iamveryunhappy；canyoutellmewhattodo？Ihadnomoneyforaticket。"
　　Theforeignyouth'sfaceflickered。
　　"Yes？"hesaid；"thatmighthappentoanyone，ofcourse。"
　　"Whatwilltheydotome？"sighedthegirl。
　　"Don'tlosecourage，ma'moiselle。"Theyoungmanslidhiseyesfromlefttoright，andrestedthemonShelton。"AlthoughIdon'tasyetseeyourwayout。"
　　"Oh，monsieur!"sighedthegirl，and，thoughitwasclearthatnonebutSheltonunderstoodwhattheyweresaying，therewasachillyfeelinginthecarriage。
　　"IwishIcouldassistyou，"saidtheforeignyouth；"unfortunately——
　　"heshruggedhisshoulders，andagainhiseyesreturnedtoShelton。
　　Thelatterthrusthishandintohispocket。
　　"CanIbeofanyuse？"heaskedinEnglish。
　　"Certainly，sir；youcouldrenderthisyoungladythegreatestpossibleservicebylendingherthemoneyforaticket。"
　　Sheltonproducedasovereign，whichtheyoungmantook。Passingit。
　　tothegirl，hesaid:
　　"Athousandthanks——'voilaunebelleaction'!"
　　ThemisgivingswhichattendoncasualcharitycrowdedupinShelton'smind；hewasashamedofhavingthemandofnothavingthem，andhestolecovertlooksatthisyoungforeigner，whowasnowtalkingtothegirlinalanguagethathedidnotunderstand。Thoughvagabondinessence，thefellow'sfaceshowedsubtlespirit，afortitudeandironynotfounduponthefaceofnormalman，andinturningfromittotheotherpassengersSheltonwasconsciousofrevolt，contempt，andquestioning，thathecouldnotdefine。Leaningbackwithhalf-
　　closedeyes，hetriedtodiagnosethisnewsensation。Hefounditdisconcertingthatthefacesandbehaviourofhisneighbourslackedanythinghecouldgraspandsecretlyabuse。Theycontinuedtoconversewithadmirableandslightlyconsciousphlegm，yetheknew，aswellasifeachonehadwhisperedtohimprivately，thatthisshadyincidenthadshakenthem。Somethingunsettlingtotheirnotionsofpropriety-somethingdangerousanddestructiveofcomplacency——hadoccurred，andthiswasunforgivable。Eachhadadifferentway，humorousorphilosophic，contemptuous，sour，orsly，ofshowingthisresentment。ButbyaflashofinsightSheltonsawthatatthebottomoftheirmindsandofhisownthefeelingwasthesame。Becausehesharedintheirresentmenthewasenragedwiththemandwithhimself。Helookedattheplump，sleekhandofthewomanwiththeRomannose。Theinsulationandcomplacencyofitspaleskin，thepassiverighteousnessaboutitscurve，theprimseparationfromtheothersofthefatlittlefinger，hadacquiredawhollyunaccountableimportance。Itembodiedtheverdictofhisfellow-
　　passengers，theverdictofSociety；forheknewthat，whetherornorepugnanttothewell-bredmind，eachassemblageofeightpersons，eveninathird-classcarriage，containsthekernelofSociety。
　　Butbeinginlove，andrecentlyengaged，Sheltonhadarighttobeimmunefromdiscontentofanykind，andherevertedtohismentalimageofthecool，fairface，quickmovements，andthebrilliantsmilethatnowinhisprobationaryexilehauntedhisimagination；hetookouthisfiancee'slastletter，butthevoiceoftheyoungforeigneraddressinghiminrapidFrenchcausedhimtoputitbackabruptly。
　　"Fromwhatshetellsme，sir，"hesaid，bendingforwardtobeoutofhearingofthegirl，"hersisanunhappycase。Ishouldhavebeenonlytoogladtohelpher，but，asyousee"——andhemadeagesturebywhichSheltonobservedthathehadpartedfromhiswaistcoat——"IamnotRothschild。ShehasbeenabandonedbythemanwhobroughtherovertoDoverunderpromiseofmarriage。Look"——andbyasubtleflickerofhiseyeshemarkedhowthetwoladieshadedgedawayfromtheFrenchgirl"theytakegoodcarenottolettheirgarmentstouchher。Theyarevirtuouswomen。Howfineathingisvirtue，sir!andfinertoknowyouhaveit，especiallywhenyouareneverlikelytobetempted。"
　　Sheltonwasunabletorepressasmile；andwhenhesmiledhisfacegrewsoft。
　　"Haven'tyouobserved，"wentontheyouthfulforeigner，"thatthosewhobytemperamentandcircumstanceareworstfittedtopronouncejudgmentareusuallythefirsttojudge？ThejudgmentsofSocietyarealwayschildish，seeingthatit'scomposedforthemostpartofindividualswhohaveneversmeltthefire。Andlookatthis:theywhohavemoneyruntoogreatariskofpartingwithitiftheydon'taccusethepennilessofbeingroguesandimbeciles。"
　　Sheltonwasstartled，andnotonlybyanoutburstofphilosophyfromanutterstrangerinpoorclothes，butatthissingularwordingofhisownprivatethoughts。Stiflinghissenseoftheunusualforthequeerattractionthisyoungmaninspired，hesaid:
　　"Isupposeyou'reastrangeroverhere？"
　　"I'vebeeninEnglandsevenmonths，butnotyetinLondon，"repliedtheother。"Icountondoingsomegoodthere——itistime!"Abitterandpatheticsmileshowedforasecondonhislips。"Itwon'tbemyfaultifIfail。YouareEnglish，Sir？"
　　Sheltonnodded。
　　"Forgivemyasking；yourvoicelackssomethingI'venearlyalwaysnoticedintheEnglishakindof——'commentcelas'appelle'——
　　cocksureness，comingfromyournation'sgreatestquality。"
　　"Andwhatisthat？"askedSheltonwithasmile。
　　"Complacency，"repliedtheyouthfulforeigner。
　　"Complacency!"repeatedShelton；"doyoucallthatagreatquality？"
　　"Ishouldrathersay，monsieur，agreatdefectinwhatisalwaysagreatpeople。Youarecertainlythemosthighly-civilisednationontheearth；yousufferalittlefromthefact。IfIwereanEnglishpreachermydesirewouldbetopricktheheartofyourcomplacency。"
　　Shelton，leaningback，consideredthisimpertinentsuggestion。
　　"Hum!"hesaidatlast，"you'dbeunpopular；Idon'tknowthatwe'reanycockierthanothernations。"
　　Theyoungforeignermadeasignasthoughconfirmingthisopinion。
　　"Ineffect，"saidhe，"itisasufficientlywidespreaddisease。Lookatthesepeoplehere"——andwitharapidglancehepointedtotheinmatesofthecarnage，——"veryaveragepersons!Whathavetheydonetowarranttheirmakingavirtuousnoseatthosewhodonotwalkastheydo？Thatoldrustic，perhaps，isdifferent——heneverthinksatall——butlookatthosetwooccupiedwiththeirstupiditiesaboutthepriceofhops，theprospectsofpotatoes，whatGeorgeisdoing，athousandthingsallofthatsort——lookattheirfaces；Icomeofthebourgeoisiemyself——havetheyevershownproofofanyqualitythatgivesthemtherighttopatthemselvesupontheback？Nofear!
　　Outsidepotatoestheyknownothing，andwhattheydonotunderstandtheydreadandtheydespise——therearemillionsofthatbreed。
　　'VoilalaSociete'!Thesolequalitythesepeoplehaveshowntheyhaveiscowardice。IwaseducatedbytheJesuits，"heconcluded；"ithasgivenmeawayofthinking。"
　　UnderordinarycircumstancesSheltonwouldhavemurmuredinawell-
　　bredvoice，"Ah!quiteso，"andtakenrefugeinthecolumnsoftheDailyTelegraph。Inplaceofthis，forsomereasonthathedidnotunderstand，helookedattheyoungforeigner，andasked，"Whydoyousayallthistome？"
　　Thetramp——forbyhisbootshecouldhardlyhavebeenbetter——
　　hesitated。
　　"Whenyou'vetravelledlikeme，"hesaid，asifresolvedtospeakthetruth，"youacquireaninstinctinchoosingtowhomandhowyouspeak。Itisnecessitythatmakesthelaw；ifyouwanttoliveyoumustlearnallthatsortofthingtomakefaceagainstlife。"
　　Shelton，whohimselfpossessedacertainsubtlety，couldnotbutobservethecomplimentarynatureofthesewords。Itwaslikesaying"I'mnotafraidofyoumisunderstandingme，andthinkingmearascaljustbecauseIstudyhumannature。"
　　"Butistherenothingtobedoneforthatpoorgirl？"
　　Hisnewacquaintanceshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Abrokenjug，"saidhe；"——you'llnevermendher。She'sgoingtoacousininLondontoseeifshecangethelp；you'vegivenherthemeansofgettingthere——it'sallthatyoucando。Oneknowstoowellwhat'llbecomeofher。"
　　Sheltonsaidgravely，"Oh!that'shorrible!Couldn'tshebeinducedtogobackhome？I
　　shouldbeglad——"
　　Theforeignvagrantshookhishead。
　　"Monchermonsieur，"hesaid，"youevidentlyhavenotyethadoccasiontoknowwhatthe'family'islike。'Thefamily'doesnotlikedamagedgoods；itwillhavenothingtosaytosonswhosehandshavedippedintothetillordaughtersnolongertobemarried。Whatthedevilwouldtheydowithher？Betterputastoneaboutherneckandletherdrownatonce。AlltheworldisChristian，butChristianandgoodSamaritanarenotquitethesame。"
　　Sheltonlookedatthegirl，whowassittingmotionless，withherhandscrossedonherbag，andarevoltagainsttheunfairwaysoflifearosewithinhim。
　　"Yes，"saidtheyoungforeigner，asifreadingallhisthoughts，"what'scalledvirtueisnearlyalwaysonlyluck。"Herolledhiseyesasthoughtosay:"Ah!La，Conventions？Havethembyallmeans——butdon'tlooklikepeacocksbecauseyouarepreservingthem；itisbutcowardiceandluck，myfriends——butcowardiceandluck!"
　　"Lookhere，"saidShelton，"I'llgivehermyaddress，andifshewantstogobacktoherfamilyshecanwritetome。"
　　"She'llnevergoback；shewon'thavethecourage。"
　　Sheltoncaughtthecringingglanceofthegirl'seyes；inthedroopofherliptherewassomethingsensuous，andtheconvictionthattheyoungman'swordsweretruecameoverhim。
　　"Ihadbetternotgivethemmyprivateaddress，"hethought，glancingatthefacesopposite；andhewrotedownthefollowing:"RichardParamorShelton，c/oParamorandHerring，Lincoln'sInnFields。"
　　"You'reverygood，sir。MynameisLouisFerrand；noaddressatpresent。I'llmakeherunderstand；she'shalfstupefiedjustnow。"
　　Sheltonreturnedtotheperusalofhispaper，toodisturbedtoread；
　　theyoungvagrant'swordskeptsoundinginhisears。Heraisedhiseyes。TheplumphandoftheladywiththeRomannosestillrestedonherlap；ithadbeenrecasedinitsblackglovewithlargewhitestitching。Herfrowninggazewasfixedonhimsuspiciously，asifhehadoutragedhersenseofdecency。
　　"Hedidn'tgetanythingfromme，"saidthevoiceofthered-facedman，endingatalkontax-gatherers。Thetrainwhistledloudly，andSheltonrevertedtohispaper。Thistimehecrossedhislegs，determinedtoenjoythelatestmurder；oncemorehefoundhimselflookingatthevagrant'slong-nosed，mockingface。"Thatfellow，"hethought，"hasseenandfelttentimesasmuchasI，althoughhemustbetenyearsyounger。"
　　Heturnedfordistractiontothelandscape，withitsAprilclouds，trimhedgerows，homelycoverts。Butstrangeideaswouldcome，andhewasdiscontentedwithhimself；theconversationhehadhad，thepersonalityofthisyoungforeigner，disturbedhim。Itwasallasthoughhehadmadeastartinsomefreshjourneythroughthefieldsofthought。
　　CHAPTERII
　　ANTONIA
　　FiveyearsbeforethejourneyjustdescribedSheltonhadstoodoneafternoononthebargeofhisoldcollegeattheendofthesummerraces。Hehadbeen"down"fromOxfordforsomeyears，buttheseOlympiancontestsstillattractedhim。
　　Theboatswerepassing，andintheusualrushtothebargesidehisarmcameincontactwithasoftyoungshoulder。Hesawclosetohimayounggirlwithfairhairknottedinaribbon，whosefacewaseagerwithexcitement。Thepointedchin，longneck，thefluffyhair，quickgestures，andthecalmstrenuousnessofhergrey-blueeyes，impressedhimvividly。
　　"Oh，wemustbumpthem!"heheardhersigh。
　　"Doyouknowmypeople，Shelton？"saidavoicebehindhisback；andhewasgrantedatouchfromthegirl'sshy，impatienthand，thewarmerfingersofaladywithkindlyeyesresemblingahare's，thedryhand-claspofagentlemanwithathin，archednose，andaquizzicalbrownface。
　　"AreyoutheMr。Sheltonwhousedtoplaythe'bones'atEton？"saidthelady。"Oh；wesooftenheardofyoufromBernard!Hewasyourfag，wasn'the？Howdistressin'itistoseethesepoorboysintheboats!"
　　"Mother，theylikeit!"criedthegirl。
　　"Antoniaoughttoberowing，herself，"saidherfather，whosenamewasDennant。
　　Sheltonwentbackwiththemtotheirhotel，walkingbesideAntoniathroughtheChristchurchmeadows，tellingherdetailsofhiscollegelife。Hedinedwiththemthatevening，and，whenheleft，hadafeelinglikethatproducedbyafirstglassofchampagne。
　　TheDennantslivedatHolmOaks，withinsixmilesofOxford，andtwodayslaterhedroveoverandpaidacall。AmidsttheavocationsofreadingfortheBar，ofcricket，racing，shooting，itbutrequiredawhiffofsomefreshscent——hay，honeysuckle，clover——tobringAntonia'sfacebeforehim，withitsuncertaincolouranditsfrank，distanteyes。Buttwoyearspassedbeforeheagainsawher。Then，ataninvitationfromBernardDennant，heplayedcricketfortheManorofHolmOaksagainstaneighbouringhouse；intheeveningtherewasdancingohthelawn。Thefairhairwasnowturnedup，buttheeyeswerequiteunchanged。Theirstepswenttogether，andthey。
　　outlastedeveryothercoupleontheslipperygrass。Thence，perhaps，sprangherrespectforhim；hewaswiry，alittletallerthanherself，andseemedtotalkofthingsthatinterestedher。Hefoundoutshewasseventeen，andshefoundoutthathewastwenty-nine。
　　ThefollowingtwoyearsSheltonwenttoHolmOakswheneverhewasasked；tohimthiswasaperiodofenchantedgames，ofcub-hunting，theatricals，anddistantsoundsofpractisedmusic，andduringitAntonia'seyesgrewmorefriendlyandmorecurious，andhisownmoreshy，andschooled，morefurtiveandmoreardent。Thencamehisfather'sdeath，avoyageroundtheworld，andthatpeculiarhourofmixedsensationswhen，oneMarchmorning，abandoninghissteameratMarseilles，hetooktrainforHyeres。
　　HefoundheratoneofthoseexclusivehostelriesamongstthepineswherethebestEnglishgo，incommonwithAmericans，Russianprincesses，andJewishfamilies；hewouldnothavebeenshockedtofindherelsewhere，buthewouldhavebeensurprised。Hissunburntfaceandthenewbeard，onwhichhesetsomeundefinedvalue，apologeticallydisplayed，werescannedbythoseblueeyeswithrapidglances，atoncemorefriendlyandlessfriendly。"Ah!"theyseemedtosay，"hereyouare；howgladIam!But——whatnow？"